Help, from a man!

Me and my wife got married almost three years ago now, and feel the time is right to start trying for a baby, seeing as we're both nearly 30.

She has always struggled to have regular periods, perhaps having as few as two or three a year. When we got married, she went on the pill which helped to start a regular cycle. However, a few months ago, she came off them and since hasn't had a period.

Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar boat and can offer advice/tell us not to worry?! Can alternative medication begin a normal cycle, or is there anything we can do?

Hi. I would see a GP. If she's not having regular periods then she's also probably not ovulating. There is medication you can get to help with this but I believe it can be a long process to see a specialist (obviously depends on waiting lists where you are) so I'd go sooner rather than later to be honest.

I also would be questioning PCOS or similar. She may well need a drug called Clomid to help her ovulate, but obviously you need a specialist to confirm that. There is help available but I warn you it can be a long and frustrating process knowing people that have been through this. I wish you both lots of luck though.

Just an update - she's going to have a blood test to see what could be causing it. She's only had one regular period in the past 6 months so hopefully the blood test will point us in the right direction. Did anyone else have a blood test to see what was causing their problems?

Have heard agnus castus is also good - can anyone give advice on that? smile

Stay away from alternative medicines and herbs. You need to find out what the root cause is, and you don't want problems to be hidden, masked or made worse with a random concoction of unregulated supplements.

A normal 28-day cycle is controlled by falling and rising levels of several hormones, which in turn control ovulation and then a period starting.The blood tests are looking for what levels these hormones are at in her blood, to work out if she is having a normal cycle, and if not, why not. They can tell by how low or high certain hormones are what might be going on.

After you get the results back, the doctors can potentially refer you on to a specialist who can prescribe medication to regulate the cycle or maybe kickstart ovulation, but this is unlikely something you can do yourselves with herbs.

Hi OP, fwiw I have always had very irregular periods and still fell pregnant straight away, so it doesn't necessarily follow that your DW will struggle to conceive. I definitely second the advice to not self-medicate with any herbs etc, so that the docs can get a true picture of what is going on. It can take some time for periods to come back properly after coming off the pill, so it may be nothing, but well worth checking out to rule out any issues.

Wait to see what the blood results come back with, and meanwhile, enjoy trying

She's been for a blood test and rang this morning to get the results. She's been told they'd (the doctor's) would like to see her later this month (25th March) - it can't be too serious if that's the case?

It is nothing to panic about. They'll want to discuss the findings with her either way, and this won't be something they need to rush her in within 24 hours to discuss.It may be that one of the GPs takes a particular interest in fertility issues and that is their next slot.